66 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



quantity of loofe flying hillocks that were there (dangerous 

 in windy weather to travellers) are very flrong pictures of 

 the Saccara, the neighbourhood of Metrahenny and Mohan- 

 nan, but they have not the fmallell or molt diltant refem- 

 blance to any part in the neighbourhood of Geeza. 



It will be afked, Where arc all thofe temples, the Serapi- 

 um, the Temple of Vulcan, the Circus, and Temple of Venus? 

 Are they found near Metrahenny ? 



To this I anfwer, Are they found at Geeza? No, but had. 

 they been at Geeza, they would have ftill been viiible, as they 

 are at Thebes, Diofpolis, and Syene, becaufe they are fur- 

 rounded with black earth not moveable by the wind. Vail 

 quantities of thefe ruins, however, are in every ftreet of 

 Cairo: every wail, every Bey's ftable, every cittern for horfes 

 to drink at, preferve part of the magnificent remains that 

 have been brought from Memphis or Metrahenny. — The 

 reft arc covered with the moving fands of the Saccara ; as 

 the fphinxes and buildings that had been defertcd were in. 

 Strabo's time for want of grafs and roots, which always, 

 fpread and keep the foil firm in populous inhabited places,, 

 the fands of the deferts are let loofe upon them, and have ■ 

 covered them probably for ever, 



A man's heart fails him in looking to the fouth andfouth- 

 weft of Metrahenny. He is loft in the immenfe expaafe of 

 defert, which he fees full of Pyramids before him. Struck. 

 with terror from the unufual fcenc of vaftnefs opened alt 

 at once upon leaving the palm-trees, he becomes difpiritcd ; 

 from the effects of fultry climates. 



From 



